Apparatus for treating sugar-juices.



E. w. DEMING & A. r. GAIENNIB APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUGAR JUIOES.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 6, 1908.

m E 0 3 f n HE iA An 0 as *9 m T m m QM B. W. DEMING 6: A; F. GAIENNIE.

APPARATUS r011 TREATING SUGAR moss.

APPLIOATIOII IILED MAY 6 1908 967,340, Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W1 TNESSES:

-ATTORNEY.S

UNITED STATES PATENT o FIo'E. 1

EUGENE w. nsmme, orvnnw YORK, N. in, AND AELPHONSE r. GAIENNIE, 62 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. ASSIGNORS TO DEMING APPARATUS COMPANY, A CORPOBA-' TION OF NEW YORK.

i APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUGAR-JUICES.

orleans, and States of (1) New Yorkand (2) Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in itpparatus for Treating Sugar-Juices, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to apparatus intended particularly for the treatment of raw to the appropriate defecatim tanks and mixed with the juices ot sugar cane or the like, one object of the invention being the PLOVISIOU of a form of apparatus wherein the juice under continuous flow may receive such automatically'regulated additions of sulfur dioxid and as may be required for its proper treatment. v A further object of the invention'is the construction of theapparatus in such form that no deposit of mud, lime, precipitate or other insoluble matter may accumulate therein, each unit volume of juice conveyingor separating devices its associated insolulile impurities.

it is now customary to conduct the juice from the milling plant to so-called liming. tanks, usually three in m'nuber, each having a capacity corresponding to the production of the mill in about. one-half lu-tu'; thus a factory consuming one thousand tons of cane per day will usually have in transit some six thousand gallons of raw juice undergoing a constant and rapid deterioration. According to the usual practice sulfur dioxid is introduced into this raw juice either on its we to the Inning-tanks or in these tanks, aml limo is thereafter applied in the juice before pumping the latter to the heating apparatus. Ac-

- fur dioxidand lirnebeing cording to the present invention the quan-' tity of raw juice in transit is reduced to an amount barely sullicient for affording a safe margin for'the juice punl under the conditions of variable supplyom the mill,. solup lied in regulated amounts to the flowing Eody'of juice.

For a full understanding of our invention reference is made to the aceompanyin drawing showing one embodiment there'd, wherein: 4

' Figure a central vertical section of a Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Kay 8, 1908. Serial No. 431203.

Patented Aug. 16,

preferred form of apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the regulating mechanism for sulfur dioxid and time being omitted; aml Figs. 3, 4, a], are details illus-. trating a particular construction of the lime valve.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a.

receiving tank for raw juice having a. converging bottom 2: the juice, previously screened for separation of fiber,

flows at 4 into an annular gutter 5, the walls 6 of which extend upwardly for a. sufficient distance to retain the foam. Thence the juice passes under the depending partitions 7 into one or more indicator tanks or compartments 8, shown as two in number. Each enters the bottom of the tank through pipe 3'and ovcrindicator tank has a bottom discharge. pipe 9 for juice leading directly to a juice pump 9.

10 represents the discharge line from the same pump, leading to a heating andseparating apparatus, which may be of the type illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 885, 50, issued April 2-1, 1908, to E. W.'Dexning. In

'cach indicating tank is a tloat, 11 vertically novahle on a fixed tubular guide 12, surmounted by a funnel 13, this tubular guide serving also for the introduction of milk of lime into -the juice, and opening into the juice discharge pipe 9;as shown the guide 12 is carried by brackets 14.

15 represents the inlet pipe for sulfur dioxid: this pipe is usually of brass and leads from a furnace or other suitable source of the gas under suliicient-pressure to overcomethe headof juicein the tank 1. The

as is admitted to the receiving tank 1 at its bottom, and is preferablyHdist-ributed through the body of juice, as by a perforated brass nozzle or distribute-r 16 having upwardly-inclined discharge orifices. The admission of suliur diouid to the juice is controlled by'a three-way cock 1?, harm connected therewith a branch pipe 18 a apted to vent any unrequired excess of gas from the furnaces.

19'is a branch-pipe extending between the inlet pi e 3 and the outlet 9, adapted to empty tie tank 1 when required, and con; trolled by a valve 20.

21 is a wash-out pipe leadin from the branch 1!) ata point between t e valve 20- and the tank 1, and controlled by a valve valve adapted to be controlled b5 the niove- 5 nients ot the lloat ll.

25, :36. represent portions of a circulating system through which milk of lime is eontinuousl) circulated at such rate us to avoid all tendency to i-logging by the separation of the suspended lime; 2T a linuvalve in said circulating system, a preferred runstruciion of this valve being shown in de- 7 3 in connection with the 'x'lUlQll! agitation due tail in Figs. 3. 4, 5.

In order to provide f r continuous operf ution and for the automatic control of the amount of sulfur dioxid and lime admitted 2 lo the flowing body of juice, the lioat ll is.

provided Wllll an upwardly extending sleeve 28, eucirolmg the tubular guide 1;, lllis; sleeve cairyiug a rod 29 udjustably engaging the lever arm 30 of the-steam valve 13+ in f such manner that the movement of the float controls the speed of the juice pump. whcreby a practically constant level is maintained i in the indicator tank 8 under all conditions of juice-supply. Another arm .31 carried by the sleeve 28 controls through appropriate levers or other mechanism the cock 1? governing the sulfur dioxid inlet, and the lime valve :27. As will be readily understood the eli'ect of this construction is to proportion the supply of sulfur dioxid and of lime to each other and to the volume of juice passing through the indicating tank in unit time.

In order that the supply of reagents, as sulfur dioxid and lime, may be properly proportioned, we prefer to provide means for indicating the condition of the jilire flowing from the apparatus with r spect to its acidity or alkalinity. plv elleeied by iroviding a small reservoir,

inuicated atllz :lor an appropriate indicator rally constant uice level in said second intervals through a small cock 33 upon a tankphenolplithalein iron: which it. drops at This is very simwhite porcelain plate or gutter 34. The? and guidin; him in the initial and Sllbscquentadjustment of the controlling levers,

second tank, a pump included in said couof the valves 17 and 2? with respect to the float-arm 3i.

It will be understood that this i adjustment requires alteration at longer or 5 l the pump is controlled by said float to 5 cock is hollow with appropriate inlet and 1 outlet apertures. and is shovvn in Fig. :I in its closed position. in order to indicat th position of the roe-k, the controlling lever 21! may be provided uiih at; iiuliratin; e.\' tension ll) arranged in ronuewtiou uh a suitably graduated scale ll mount d on llll t'ilsllig' i in operation the juice from the milling plant is admitted to the bottom of the ret-eii'ing tank and lion's upvJar-llv therethrough, the upward movement of {injuice to the injection of sulfur dioxitl and the associated air serving to keep all. solid nuttiers in suspension and to avoid all accumulation in the receiving; tank. 'll eure the juice overflows into the lllllll'lillll tank or tanks 8, receiving milk of lllllt through the ube 12, which may enter the discharge line Since the valves controlling the admission of sulfur dioxid and of lime a re. coupled directly to the steam valve controlling the juice pump, it follows that the suppliv of both reagents is always directly related to the wlume of juice flowing; and as this ceupl between the valves is adjustable, a correct proporlioning of lhe reageuts is very readily mound and maintained, the visual indication afforded by the color reaction on the white plate illguidin; the opera t O t.

\Ye claim:

1. In apparatus for treating cane juices or the like, a continuous-flow receiving tank having a bottom inlet for juice, a second tank in proximity to said receiving tank and eonununicating therewith, a juice conduit leading from said second tank, a. pump it'll-lulled in said conduit, :1 float suitably mounted in said second tank, and conueelions hereby the speed of the pump is controlled by said float to maintain a practi- 2. In apparatus for treating cane juices or the like, a continuous-flow receiving tank having a bottom inlet for juice, means for injecting sulfur :lioxid in proximity to said juice inlet, a second tank in proximity to said receiving tank and ctunmuuicatiu; therewith, a juice conduit leading from said duit, a. lloat suitably mounted in said second tank, and connections whereby the speed of maintain a practically constant; juice level in said second tank.

3. In apparatus for treating cane juices or the like, a continuous-flow receiving tank having a bottom inlet for juice. a trough surroundin; the upper portion of said tank and adapted to, receive the ov'erliowtherefrom. a second tank in proximity to said reiiig to a discharge nipple 35. As shown'this ceiving tank and communicating with said trough, a juice conduit leading from said i i id 3 r 1 Fri ['5 i i I i.

second tank. a pump iurhided in mid umdnit. :1 Hunt suitably nmunted in mid semnii tank. and CUXlllfilliUlh whereby the speed uf the pump is eontrulled by mid flout in maintain a practically cunstant juice level in said seemid tank.

4. In apparatus for treating vane juiee 01 the like, a cuntinuous-fhnv reveiving nysitlll fur the juire. means for admitting acid and alkaline reagents thereto, and means conhulled by the volume of juicetraversing the system for simultaneuihly regulating the amount of acid and alkaline reagents admitted.

5. In apparatus fuz treating vane jniee m 'the like. a continuous flow receiving \,.-'ieln EUGENE \V. DEMIXG. ALIHUNSE F. HAIEXXIE. .\\'i1nesses 1 *Inw. N. HUM, V. Forum. 

